Hootens.com Rankings

Class 4A, Week 11, 2023

Copyright Seventy Seven's Football Publishing, Llc

1. Harding Academy (10-0)
2. Warren (10-0)
3. Elkins (10-0)
4. Arkadelphia (6-3)
5. Rivercrest (8-2)
6. Malvern (6-3)
7. Ozark (8-2)
8. DeWitt (9-1)
9. Nashville (7-3)
10. Heber Springs (6-4)
11. CAC (8-2)
12. Monticello (7-3)
13. Crossett (6-4)
14. Bauxite (7-3)
15. Stuttgart (7-3)
16. McGehee (5-4)
17. Lamar (7-3)
18. Mayflower (7-3)
19. Clinton (7-3)
20. Blytheville (5-5)
21. Highland (7-3)
22. Pottsville (6-4)
23. Gravette (6-4)
24. Lincoln (7-3)
25. Pocahontas (4-6)
26. Ashdown (5-4)
27. Trumann (5-5)
28. Bald Knob (4-5)
29. Mena (5-5)
30. Gentry (5-5)
31. Gosnell (6-4)
32. H.G. Haskell (4-6)
33. Lonoke (3-6)
34. Dumas (4-6)
35. Hamburg (3-7)
36. Star City (1-9)
37. Green Forest (4-6)
38. Hall Steam (2-8)
39. Berryville (3-7)
40. Jonesboro Westside (1-9)
41. Dover (2-7)
42. Riverview (1-9)
43. Helena (0-10)
44. Huntsville (0-10)
45. Cave City (0-9)
46. Waldron (0-9)
47. Harrisburg (0-10)

LAST WEEK
Hootens.com correctly predicted of 18 22 games (82), and for the season has picked 236 of 279 games (85 percent).

HOOTENS.COM GAME OF THE WEEK
No. 13 Crossett (6-4) at No. 9 NASHVILLE (7-3): Nashville crushed Crossett 56-13 in the first round of the 2015 playoffs before winning the state title. The Scrappers finished 3rd in the 7-4A this fall, losing to Arkadelphia 44-6 and Malvern 35-21. They fine-tuned for the playoffs last week with a 62-7 nonconference victory over Lonoke. Senior RB Tre Hopkins ran for 139 yards and 4 TDs. Sophomore DE Zaccheus Harris, whom opposing coaches call the league's top defensive player, recorded 4 sacks last week, and has 21 this season.
Crossett dropped to the No. 4 seed in 8-4A after losing 36-26 last week at Monticello. Quarterback Max Brooks has passed more than 2,500 yards this fall, while senior receiver Taylin Paskel has 1,271 receiving yards. LB Armod Williams made 16 stops vs. Monticello and has 66 tackles this fall. “They have the best receiver in the state, and their defense is fast and gives multiple looks,” Nashville Coach Mike Volarvich says.

WEEK 11 PREDICTIONS (favored team highlighted in ALL CAPS)

TOP OF THE BRACKET
7-4A (1) Arkadelphia (6-3) has a first-round bye

2-4A (4) BALD KNOB (4-5) at 4-4A (3) Mayflower (7-3): This game should be close. These teams were members of the former 6-3A and the 2-4A conference from 2004-2012, with Mayflower winning 6 of the 8 meetings. Mayflower, the 4-4A No. 3 seed, beat Hall Steam Academy 23-13 a week ago. QB Frankie Fennell ran for 86 yards and 1 TD, while Arturo Acosta ran for 1 TD, caught 1 TD pass, made 13 tackles and 1 sack. Bald Knob finishes as the No. 4 seed from 2-4A after last week's 28-21 loss to Stuttgart. The Bulldogs, powered by tough running senior QB/ILB James Holder, were stopped in the red zone with a chance to tie late in the fourth quarter.

7-4A (5) Mena (5-5) at 3-4A (1) RIVERCREST (8-2): Mena secured the 8-4A No. 5 seed with last week's 42-6 win over Waldron. Jair Hernandez intercepted 3 passes, returning 1 for a TD. QB Mike Sullivan threw a 70-yard TD pass and ran 71 yards or a TD, while Brody Peters ran for 140 yards and 2 TDs. Rivercrest won its 3rd league title in 4 years with last week's 31-12 victory over Blytheville. Senior Michael Rainer (11-121-1 rushing; 1-30-1 receiving; 4 tackles, 1 interception at safety vs. Blytheville) is one of the state's more versatile players. Senior RB Koby Turner (24-182-2) and DE Wyatt Lancaster (9 tackles, 1 sack) played well vs. Blytheville. The Colts' 2 losses were to 5A East champion Valley View and 5A Central runner-up Mills.

2-4A (3) STUTTGART (7-3) at 1-4A (3) Gravette (6-4): Gravette finished as the No. 3 seed from the 1-4A after last week's 58-35 shootout victory over Gentry. QB Gabe Holmes accounted for 6 TDs (4 running, 2 passing). Kayden Brown caught 71- and 17-yard TD passes and ran 34 yards for a TD. Youthful Stuttgart secured the No. 3 seed with a 7-point win over Bald Knob. Freshman QB Cain Price passed for 286 yards but threw 3 interceptions at Bald Knob, while WR's Deontae Clark and Quarterion Johnson each finished with more than 100 yards and 1 TD. Tank Hood (12 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble vs. Bald Knob) has been Stuttgart's defensive leader.

3-4A (5) Trumann (5-5) at 8-4A (1) WARREN (10-0): Warren whipped Trumann 35-7 in the first round in 2021. The 8-4A champion Lumberjacks finished this season undefeated, capped with last week's 42-28 win at Hamburg. Junior Antonio Jordan (5-56-3 rushing; 5-109-2 receiving) and RB Jordyn Ingram (18-115 rushing) led the Lumberjacks offense, while the defense limited Hamburg to 143 yards (45 rushing, 98 passing). Trumann earned the 5 seed from 3-4A with last week's 47-6 win over Harrisburg. QB Jake Osment (26-173-3 rushing; 78 yards passing) and RB's Cade Hatton (5-112-2) and Kayden Dunavin (3-59-2) played well on offense, along with H-back/DT Gavin Cubit (4 pancake blocks, 9 tackles, 1 FF) and freshman H-back Bradon Whitsett (4 pancake blocks). Sophomore DE Cade Hayse made 7 tackles and Efrain Garcia had 3 tackles, 1 sack and kicked 5 extra points.

8-4A (5) McGehee (5-4) at 4-4A (2) BAUXITE (7-3): These teams played nonconference games against each other in 2006-2007, with Bauxite winning both times. Bauxite tied for the 4-4A title but finishes as the No. 2 seed because of a 5-point loss at CAC in midseason. Freshman QB Eli Perry keeps drives and plays alive with his dual-threat abilities. RB Walt Duncan played well in last week's 28-14 win over rival H.G. Haskell. McGehee earned the 8-4A's No. 5 seed with last week's 49-24 win at Helena. The Owls rushed for 441 yards while not attempting a pass. RB Kam Jefferson (9-160-2), sophomore QB/RB Jai Hughes (8-142-2) and senior FB Jaykaylin Easter (5-21-1) led the ground attack.

4-4A (3) Lamar (7-3) at 4-4A (2) OZARK (8-2): These teams were members of the 4-4A conference from 2020-2021. with Ozark winning both games. Ozark's only losses this year were to unbeaten 1-4A champion Elkins and 1-3A champion Booneville. The Hillbillies hammered Huntsville 56-30 a week ago, behind junior dual-threat QB Koby Wilbanks (6-8-100-2 passing; 4-105-2 rushing). Lamar QB Caleb Green was injured on the fifth play of last week's 53-0 loss at CAC, but he's expected to return this week. The Warriors also had 7 players miss the entire week of practice while attending the national Future Farmers of America Convention in Indianapolis. DL Logan Kendrick made 6 tackles and 1 sack vs. CAC, while backup QB Eli Jones played well. The Warriors are averaging 20 points per game since FB Jarrett Dalton was injured in Week 5 vs. H.G. Haskell.

1-4A (4) Lincoln (7-3) at 2-4A (2) HEBER SPRINGS (6-4): Lincoln, the 1-4A's No. 4 seed, lost to Elkins 54-0 last week, snapping a 3-game win streak. Senior QB Drew Moore has passed for more than 2,200 yards, 25 TDs with 10 interceptions this season, while junior Kale Jones has rushed for almost 1,400 yards and 20 TDs. Heber Springs finishes as 2-4A runners-up after winning 11 games over the past 4 previous seasons. Senior RB Parker Brown (4-163-2 rushing; 2 punt returns for TDs) keyed last week's 41-0 win over Riverview.

BOTTOM OF THE BRACKET
4-4A (1) CAC (8-2) has a first-round bye.

8-4A (4) Crossett (6-4) at 7-4A (3) NASHVILLE (7-3): See Hootens.com Class 4A Game of the Week above.

4-4A (5) Clinton (7-3) at 1-4A (1) ELKINS (10-0): These teams were members of the 1-3A from 2016-2017, with each team winning once. They shared the 2016 conference title. In 2017, Clinton won the league title, while Elkins finished second. Clinton won 7 games this fall but finished as the No. 5 seed in the balanced 4-4A. The Yellow Jackets beat Dover 45-12 a week ago, with Bryston Venable (4-70-2), Zach Hunt Gonzalez (3-66), Zane Widner (3-56-1) and Kaleb McCarver (2-38-1) leading a ground attack that produced 378 yards. Elkins won its second consecutive conference championship with a defense that gives up 6 points weekly. Senior QB Dizzy Dean (18-24-187 passing), senior RB Da'Shawn Chairs (6-110-5 rushing) and WR John Townsend (6-73 receiving) were leaders on offense in last week's 54-0 win over Lincoln. Pucci Townsend has intercepted 5 passes the past 2 weeks.

8-4A (3) MONTICELLO (7-3) at 3-4A (3) Highland (7-3): Monticello earned the No. 3 seed with last week's 36-26 win over Crossett. Senior QB Brooks Bowman (13-22-169-1 passing), RB Pharrell Lewis (14-102 rushing), RB Quay Rhodes (10-86) and WR Evan Bealer (9-77) played well on offense, while Curtis Barrow (5 tackles, 1 interception return for a TD) spearheaded the defense. Highland's 14-6 victory over Harrisburg secured a No. 3 seed. Rebels RB Keagan Statler (28-149-1) was a workhorse on offense and made 11 tackles at LB. Freshman Jimmy Jensen (15 tackles, 1 interception), Gabe Hightower (14 tackles) and Kalei Tokanang (5 tackles, 3 TFL) played well on defense.

1-4A (5) Gentry (5-5) at 1-4A (1) HARDING ACADEMY (10-0): These teams haven't played since Harding Academy's 34-0 victory in the first round of the 1983 playoffs. Gentry finished as the 1-4A's No. 5 seed after losing its final 4 conference games by an average of 52-22. Senior Bennett Roberts ran for 3 TDs and sophomore QB Talan Williams threw 2 TD passes in last week's 23-point setback at Gravette. Harding Academy, which has played in 4 consecutive state title games, finishes as the No. 1 seed from the 2-4A. Wildcats junior QB Owen Miller threw 4 TD passes in last week's 40-9 win over Cave City.

2-4A (5) Lonoke (3-6) at 7-4A (2) MALVERN (6-3): Lonoke, decimated by injuries, has lost 4 consecutive games. The Jackrabbits have gotten solid play from freshmen Rian Lewis, Ryder Ingle and Jonathan Hixson on defense. Malvern RB Jalen Dupree (27-229-5) dominated in last week's 55-35 loss at Arkadelphia, while LB Angel Perez made 12 tackles.

7-4A (4) Ashdown (5-4) at 3-4A (2) BLYTHEVILLE (5-5): These teams have never played. Blytheville falls to the No. 2 seed after losing its final 2 games, including last week to Rivercrest 31-12. Chickasaws WR Tyrin Walker played well, coach Jett Howard says. Ashdown committed 17 turnovers in its 3 conference losses this year. “We have to take care of ourselves,” Coach Matt Richardson says. The Panthers expect 4 injured starters to return this week.

3-4A (4) Pocahontas (4-6) at 8-4A (2) DEWITT (9-1): These teams have never played. Pocahontas falls to the No. 4 seed after last week's 8-point loss to Highland. “Highland outplayed and outcoached us,” Pocahontas Coach Casey Chester says. DE Jack Privett paced Pocahontas in tackles. DeWitt secured the No. 2 seed and a 9-win regular season with last week's 41-20 victory over Dumas. Korri Graham ran for 190 yards and 3 TDs, while Owen St. John had 112 yards.